JUDGMENT :

M.R. SHAH, J.

1. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment and order dated 10.03.2022 passed by the High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad in Regular First Appeal No. 492/2022, by which the High Court has dismissed the said appeal preferred by the appellants herein and has confirmed the order dated 20.10.2021 passed by the Reference Court, rejecting the reference under Section 18 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Act 1894’) as barred by limitation, the original claimants have preferred the present appeal.

2. The facts leading to the present appeal in nutshell are as under:

That a notification under Section 4 of the Act 1894 came to be issued for acquiring the lands in question for the construction of Gas Compressor Station and necessary facilities under the Reliance Gas Transportation, Surat on 30.07.2008. Declaration under Section 6 of the Act 1894 was issued on 1.6.2009. The Land Acquisition Officer/Collector declared the award under Section 11 of the Act, 1894 awarding compensation @ Rs. 69/- per square meter, vide award dated 6.4.2011. Notice under Section 12(2) of the Act, 1894 with a copy of the award was issued to the